The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-09
Surrounded by the Sorrowful Members of His
Friend of Freedom Passes from Earth.
A Career That Was Stormy and Tempest
uous Closes Calmly and Peacefully.
The Funeral To Be Held on Thursday and the
Remains Deposited in Greenwood Gene
tery-Grief Of the Wife and Children.
BEECRER DEAD.
He Breathed His Last at $50 Yesterday
Morning-The Scene at the Bedside.

Morning-The Scene at the Bedside.
Special to the Indiana polls Journal
BROOKLYN. March 8.-The physicians and
nurses at the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher's bed
side were about finishing their third ng1eof
anxiety and hopeless watchfulness. when, at
$50 this morning, Dr. Searle, who has been in
constant attendance upon the patient since
early last evening, discovered that sudden
change had come over the dying preacher. He
at once made hurried examination of his
charge. and with a significant shake of his hands
indicated to the other attendants in the sick
room that there was not the slightest hope left
He at once issued and had posted the following:
MARCH 8. $50 A. M.-Tke critical moment in Mr..
Beechers life has passed. He is rapidly sinking,
and his death is but question of few hours
w. S. SEARLE NJ. D.
Copies of this bulletin Immediately dis
patched to all parts of the city, and soon the pub
lication of the abandonment of the last hope of
Mr.. Beecher's physician became widely circu-
lated.
Citizens of Brooklyn their way to their re-
spective places of business went many blocks
out of their regular route to pass the Beecher
residence to get glimpse of the latest bulletin.
Many fingered about the house until, at 7:30
o'clock, the crowd had become great that the
police were obliged to request them to dispense.
The first bulletin Of the day was now replaced
by the following:
'Mr Beecher is sinking steadily, and will probably
live but short time w. S. SEARLE. NJ D.
From the time that DR.. Seare issued mis- 7:3O
bulletin up to the end, the family and few
friends gathered around the bedside. The pa
tient lay on his back. the merest motion of the
cha ipdi fiuD Ho otin
he was when the breathing ceased. His counte-
nance had changed from coarse to fine; the white
hair rested like benediction of tho lilies on his
wan and painless temples. The room was warm
and bright with the morning sun, and nature
poured in her cheering rays Near the head of
the sleeper knelt his aged wife in solemn prayer.
By her side were Col. H. W. Beecher and his
devoted wife: behind them were their children
Margaret Edith and Harry. On the other side
of the bed were Col. ". C. Beecher and
wife, their niece, Miss Builard, and by
them stood the scn-in-law. Rev. Samuel
Scovll. of Stamford, Conn, his wife, Hattie
Beecher Scovi whose resemblance to her
father is startling, and their two daughters The
faithful DR.. Searle stood outside of the immedi-
ate group. Pastor Halliday stood at the foot of
the bed Near him were Mr.. and Mrs s. V.
White, and Rev. Lyman Abbot. Mr.. E. A Sea-
comb stood in the background A whispered
word of comfort would be exchanged by those
who stood near one another. Heads were bowed
in silent prayer or eyes would let the tears un-
checked flow. The great man slept on, his life
slowly ebbing away At $50 precisely, a keen
ray of light, unusual in It's intensity fell across
the countenance and reflected the dancing shade
of the pendant crysal on the mantel lamps upon
the white pillow. There had been the regular
sound Of stertorons breathing, low regular
as marked but as unnoticed as the
ticking of the clock. At $50 exactly that sound
ceased, and the soul had hidden the tenement
goodbye until they that sleep shall rise; until
this corruptible shall put on interruption; until
this mortal shall put on immortality, and. rising
a spiritual body, death shall be swallowed up in
victory"
1t is difficult to describe the scene at this mo.
ment. Notwithstanding the fact that his death
was looked for. that it had been expected hourly,
it seemed to come with such crushing force that
the family were perfectly prostrated with grief.
They could not bring themselves to the sad real
ization that the kindly. musical voice of hus-
band, father and grandfather was forever
hushed in death, and that they had only the
| remembrance of his kind admonitions Mrs
| Beecher, who bad borne up so bravely from the
| first, and who had watched so constantly at the
bedside of her dying husband. was utterly brok-
en- down, and when, supported by her son Har-
ry, as she tottered from the room looked as if ii
would not be long before she would follow her
! beloved husband.
! The news of Mr. Beschers death spread very
quickly TO ali parts Of the city, and Brooklyn
/ may now be said to be city of mourning. Even
/ those who did not always concur with MIR.
| Beecher in his views had no hesitation in ex.
pressing their deep regret at his death, AS q
mark of respect to his memory the flags on all
the public buildings were placed at half mast,
and Mayor Whitney had the City Hall bell tolled
The committee appointed by the officers OF
Plymouth Church last Sunday to take charge oi
the funeral made the necessary arrangements
| this morning. Many years ago Mr.. John T.
| Howard gave Mr.. Beecher portion of his lot r
Greenwood Cemetery, and the members of Mr.
Beecher's family who have died have been buried
there but the committee will probably now SO
lect another plot
Dr. Searle has made public public the follow
ing statement: Mr.. Beecher failed decidedly
after A. NJ; the breath Was more labored anG
slower and his pulse gradually grew weaker
| The family was aroused about p NJ, and al
gathered around his bedside. It soon became
| evident. however, that immediate dissolutio,
was not to be looked for. 1t stole on him stead
lily and stealthiy 1t was not until $50 A. NJ
that he could be said to be dying, At hi
pulse became feeble and hickering, but /
remained preceptible at TIE wrist until . fey